Memorial Day History, How Sarasota Remembers: 5 Things To Know

SARASOTA, FL — Memorial Day is a holiday people throughout Sarasota and across America look forward to every year as the start of summer.

It also gives people a chance to look back, as the final Monday in May is a day to remember all American lives lost during military service.

Here are five things to know about the history of Memorial Day:

1. It Was Originally Called Decoration Day: Remembering veterans who died while in military service in late May dates back to 1868, when Gen. John A. Logan called for a day of remembrance to honor the Northern lives lost amid battle during the Civil War that had ended just a few years earlier, according to History.com. Logan called it “Decoration Day,” which it was known as for several years. As time passed, more and more people called it Memorial Day, History.com reported, and it became a federal holiday in 1971.

2. Local Services: There are numerous Memorial Day traditions in Sarasota, some going back years. Here are some upcoming events in the Sarasota area:

• 6th Annual SRQ Vets 5K Memorial Hike: Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., JD Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota. This event honors fallen heroes who have served our country and units the local veteran and civilian communities to raise money for SRQ vets. This hike starts at the JD Hamel War Memorial Park, crosses the Ringling Bridge, and then heads back to the park for a barbecue picnic, music, rock wall, bungie jumping and more. Tickets are $25.
• Military Appreciation Day: Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. Participating businesses will offer special discounts to all members who have served in the military.
• Memorial Day Ceremony: Monday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at JD Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota. The ceremony features singer Lauren Nielsen, guest speaker Linda Gould, a color guard, pipers and more.
• Hybrid In-Person/Virtual Memorial Day Service: Monday, 11 a.m. to noon, North Port City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd., North Port. The annual Memorial Day service won’t take place like it normally does in North Port, but the city will host a hybrid event honoring those who sacrificed their lives while serving our country. The event will take place at the City Center Front Green flagpole and also stream on the city’s Facebook page.
• Memorial Day Tribute at Sarasota National Cemetery: A virtual tribute will take place Monday, May 31, 10 a.m.

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3. Birthplace Of Memorial Day: The Memorial Day holiday tradition in Waterloo, New York, dates back even longer than Logan’s call for a day of remembrance. Waterloo first celebrated on May 5, 1866, as local businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags, according to History.com.

"The people of Waterloo are justly proud of this outstanding event in the history of their community," then-New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller said in 1966, when the federal government recognized the upstate village about midway between Rochester and Syracuse as the “birthplace of Memorial Day.”

Although its event is canceled for the second consecutive year due to the coronavirus, Waterloo holds a yearly two-day celebration — complete with a car show, Civil War memorial and 5K races — as a nod to the village’s rich connection to the holiday’s history.

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4. A Civil War Holiday At First: Until World War I, Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as noted above, was only meant to honor those who died while fighting for the union in the Civil War, as Southern states honored their war dead on a separate day. After the 116,000-plus American deaths in World War I, the holiday took on a new role to remember all who have died while serving in the military.

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5. National Moment Of Remembrance: Every year, a national moment of remembrance is held at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. The midday time was chosen “because it is the time when many Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Check out additional Memorial Day coverage:

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• Memorial Day 2021: Best, Worst Times To Travel From FL Cities
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